Cardiothoracic Surgery

PREREQUISITES AND PLACEMENT IN THE CURRICULUM: Open to students who have completed the M3 Core Clerkship in Surgery.

PURPOSE: The major objective for students participating in the cardiothoracic sub specialty is the total management of patients with cardiothoracic disease admitted directly to the cardiothoracic surgical service and in consultation to the medical service.

COMPETENCIES: At the end of the four-week subspecialty, each student shall be able to provide the following patient care for at least 5 patients per week:
• Take a history, physical exam, organize a surgical patient's problem list and summarize those problems in a concise oral presentation;
• Develop efficient plan of diagnostic tests to elucidate common problems;
• Describe surgical procedure to treat or correct problem;
• Formulate diagnosis for common surgical problem;
• Describe techniques involved in performing common procedures;
• Perform minor procedures.

INSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES: : The objectives will be obtained by the following instructional methods:
• Observation in the Operating Room;
• Attendance of daily teaching rounds, weekly grand rounds, weekly M & M's, weekly V A combined CT conference, weekly CT conference and Cath conference, and also a once-a-month journal club with cardiothoracic faculty and residents;
• Guest lectureships in cardiothoracic surgery given by visiting professors quarterly in conjunction with Saturday morning grand rounds.